Based on sales, Boyz II Men is one of the most successful R&B groups of all time, having recorded five #1 pop hits between 1992 and 1997. They have since topped sales of 25 million records. Three of their #1 hits, "End of the Road", "I'll Make Love to You", and "One Sweet Day" (a duet with Mariah Carey), set and broke records for the longest period of time a single remained at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Boyz II Men were originally signed to Motown Records from 1990 to 2000, at which point they were moved to parent label Universal Records. After the 2000 album Nathan Shawn Michael Wanya, Boyz II Men moved to Arista Records. In 2003, Michael McCary left the group due to chronic back problems resulting from scoliosis. As of 2005, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris continue to tour and record as a trio.
Underwater
Boyz II Men Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And every single letter is about your name, oh
And every time I give you a call
It all pours down like a waterfall
It’s my fault for thinking that I
Can be the one to make you change
‘Cause you do what you want to
And every time that you roll your eyes
I feel like I’m
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Don’t think I can take no more
Words are wasted on you, baby
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
You don’t care what I'm about
Talking underwater
I was hoping my love could be the cure
Oh, what a looking at your face, I’m not too sure
Could it be that you mean more than me
Then I would ever be the all, oh
It’s my fault for thinking that I
Can be the one to make you change
‘Cause you do what you want to
And never listen to me anyway
And every time that you roll your eyes
I feel like I’m
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Don’t think I can take no more
Words are wasted on you, baby
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
You don’t care what I'm about
Talking underwater
Words are wasted on you baby, oh
Words are wasted on you baby, oh
Words are wasted on you baby
Words are wasted on you baby, oh
Every time I’m talking to you
It seems you’re not even listening to me
I don’t understand what that is, just selfish, damn
I feel like I’m
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Don’t think I can take no more
Words are wasted on you, baby
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
You don’t care what I'm about
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Don’t think I can take no more
Words are wasted on you, baby
Talking underwater
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
You don’t care what I'm about
Talking underwater
Words are wasted on you, baby, oh
Talking underwater
Words are wasted on you, baby, oh
Talking underwater
Words are wasted on you, baby
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Words are wasted on you, baby
Talking underwater
Every time I’m talking to you
It seems you’re not even listening to
me
In "Underwater," Boyz II Men is singing about a communication breakdown between two people in a relationship. The singer's lungs are filled with words, which could symbolize a deep longing to express how they feel to their partner. However, every time they try to communicate, their words pour down like a waterfall and are wasted on their unresponsive partner. The singer feels like they're talking underwater where their words are rendered meaningless because they aren't being heard. They express anger and frustration at their partner's lack of interest in listening, making them feel like their love is not being received. They acknowledge their own fault in thinking that they could change their partner, who does what they want and never listens anyway. As they continue to express their feelings, they wonder if their love can be the cure, but they're not too sure, as their partner doesn't seem to care about what they're saying.
The song's overall theme is about the lyrics being "wasted on you, baby." The title "Underwater" creates a visual metaphor, suggesting that the singer's words are being drowned out and rendered meaningless, much like how one's voice sounds underwater. The theme of unresponsive partners is a common theme in Boyz II Men's music, previously seen in their hit song "End of the Road." This song is a reflection of how the most important part of a relationship is communication and how damaging it can be when there is a breakdown in that communication.
Line by Line Meaning
Don’t you know my lungs are filled with words?
I have so much to say to you, it feels like my lungs are full of words.
And every single letter is about your name, oh
All the words I have are about you, your name is all I can think of.
And every time I give you a call
Whenever I call you, I hope you'll hear me out.
It all pours down like a waterfall
I can't help but pour out my feelings for you whenever I talk to you.
It’s my fault for thinking that I
I realize now that it was a mistake to think that I
Can be the one to make you change
Could have been the one to change you, make you see things my way.
‘Cause you do what you want to
You do what you want, don't take into account anyone else's thoughts.
And never listen to me anyway
You never really listen to what I have to say.
And every time that you roll your eyes
Whenever you roll your eyes, I feel
I feel like I’m talking underwater
Like I'm trying to communicate with someone underwater, who can't hear me.
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Why can't you understand how much I care and love you?
Don’t think I can take no more
I don't think I can take it anymore
Words are wasted on you, baby
I feel like my words are wasted, that no matter what I say, you won't listen.
I was hoping my love could be the cure
I had hoped that my love could fix us, that it would be enough to solve our problems.
Oh, what a looking at your face, I’m not too sure
Looking at your face, I am unsure about us, I am not sure what you feel anymore.
Could it be that you mean more than me
Is it possible that you care more about yourself than you do about me?
Then I would ever be the all, oh
Than I ever thought I could be, to you
Every time I’m talking to you
Whenever we talk,
It seems you’re not even listening to me
It feels like you're not even paying attention,
I don’t understand what that is, just selfish, damn
I don't understand, if you don't care about me, you are just being selfish.
Why can’t you hear I love ya?
Why can't you understand or feel my love for you?
You don’t care what I'm about
You don't care about who I am or what I do
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRIDOLIN NORDSOE SCHJOLDAN, LUCAS SECON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind